Reset button
Keefe described Tuesday as a “reset,” not because of any one player, but because of the collective response.
“We have a foundation and a structure,” he said. “It’s kind of eased over time. Yesterday was a real reset for us. It’s a coincidence that Pesce is coming back at the same time, but it’s definitely time that the shots on goal started to be a lot more consistent.”
This reset will be tested immediately. Even without Eichel and Theodore, Keefe sees plenty of danger in Vegas’ lineup.
“A very good team on the power play, with a lot of good players here today,” he said. “They have a lot of threats, so we’re going to be tested. We’re hoping to see our guys a lot more assertive.”
Finding energy on the road
The Devils last saw Vegas recently and, despite the result, Keefe enjoyed the game periods. The challenge now is to reproduce this level away from home, in a building that supplies energy to the home side.
“We have to use the energy that comes with playing in this building for our own benefit,” Keefe said. “Travel delays, late arrivals, time changes – this is not a normal game day. So warm up well, get some energy, feed off it and get off to a good start.”
He directly pointed to recent debuts as the dividing line.
“We were hesitant and slow the last time we played these guys. We were hesitant and slow against Vancouver,” Keefe said. “We didn’t hesitate at all against Anaheim. That’s the message. Be ready to skate and work from the start.”
Individual growth, team impact
Pesce’s return also intersects with growth elsewhere in the lineup. Keefe praised Luke Hughes’ recent play, noting that the points ultimately matched the process.
“He’s been in those spots quite often. Pucks were blocked or missing the net,” Keefe said. “It’s great to see them go down. His play overall has been very good – consistent, good defensively, moving the puck well in transition.”
On offense, patience remains the theme for Jesper Bratt.
“He was alone and hit some posts, hit the handle of the goalie’s stick,” Keefe said. “Last season he scored on a lot of those points. Don’t get carried away with that. Don’t get consumed to the point where you destroy other areas of your game.”
Opportunity on both benches
Cassidy echoed a similar message on the Vegas side, presenting the absences as an opportunity rather than an excuse.
“Others probably want to own a little more,” he said. “We always have to play the same team game. The first thing we have to do is defend well, play well in front of our goalkeeper.”
For the Devils, the opportunity is clear: get back into habits, regain confidence and let Pesce’s return strengthen the group without expecting it to fix everything at once.
As Keefe says: “It means a lot to our team, but we can’t just sit back and say everything is going to fall back into place. »
